When a marriage or family experiences their loved one's mental health distress or disorder, it brings about a lot of emotions and frustration. I can relate because my wife's mental health journey had me searching for answers from God, myself, and others. I learned a few things along the way and had the opportunity to encourage countless others couples and families. I don't have all the answers, but I may have some helpful notes for your journey.

1. NOTE: Blame & Fault-Finding Leave Us Stuck In the Mud.

After trying to understand the mental health distress and disorder, one of the first things that naturally comes up is, "Who's fault is it?" and "Why is this happening to us?" This comes with introspective blaming and outward fault-finding. Your loved one is also going through this experience. Many Christians default the situation to a "spiritual issue" with the blame game (sin, flesh, the devil, and God's "discipline"). I remember going through this, and the more I searched for the why and who's fault it was, the more I felt emotionally stuck in the mud!

I had to wrestle out of the mud (mindset) that God brings about suffering and hardship to do a greater work in us. I learned God takes no pleasure in our suffering because He is not a God who uses thorns to humble or help us grow, rather He is with us in our suffering and pain with all sufficient grace.

I've met some of the most endearing Christian couples and families (who did everything right, but not perfect) and end up blaming themselves for not being "a good spouse or parent." They also look at their loved one's faults and/or their bad influences (friends, music, social media, etc.). Then, great Christian friends and pastors give counsel to reinforce this thinking. They were stuck in the mud, too! It's easy to get stuck, we all do. This is just a simple reminder that we grow with Christ in us, with us, around us (always enough in Him), rather than trying to grow up for Him to be pleased and bless our holy efforts (that's the "I'm not enough" thinking).

2. NOTE: God Trusts You, Too!

I remember talking to one family whose young adult child had to live at home because of their mental health condition. They had a great relationship and home life structure, but their loved-one's condition still needed support at home. They were asking me what else they could do even though most of the problems were gone. After some more questions, we realized that they were feeling like (and counseled by other well meaning people) they were failing parents and trying to trust God for more. I encouraged them, like I do with most, "You're doing more right than wrong!" I encouraged them to see the beauty of what they already had and simply let their loved one grow ... eventually, their loved one may want to move on.

And lastly, I encouraged them that I think God already knows their amazing trust (faith), but also to know, "God trusts you, too! ... You're doing great, keep it up!" That took them from failing parents to being affirmed as faithful parents!

3. NOTE: These Emotions Are Normal and Balanced with Love.

All these difficult emotions are normal and right! Experiencing discouragement is not a lack of faith, it is part of the journey of faith. Somehow our brain doesn't do well without a formula that makes sense (maybe that's more a western culture where we need lots of formula steps to fix our pain or just our Adam nature to point the finger at someone else). This is all part of the grieving process to navigate all the challenging emotions (sadness, anger, confusion, doubt, and so on). Yeah, it's messy with a lot of pain, but that's okay and going through the emotions is the faith journey (Christ all in step by step). We know this is part of the process and that's whey we actually cover this topic in our Family Grace Group workbook, "Grieving and Grace."

"Over time, a new peace began to grow. (notice I didn't say "I arrived at a new peace")."

With the support of a few counseling appointments and some very understanding friends, I realized it was okay to have all these wild emotions, but I couldn't stay stuck in the mud of self-blaming and fault-finding. Somehow, the reality of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 naturally helped me move forward (day by day and through the months). Over time, a new peace began to grow (notice I didn't say "I arrived at a new peace"). That peace grows into a new acknowledging perspective that the mental health condition is now part of our lives, our marriage and our family, and we needed a new process of life. That new process of life is what my team and I have translated into our various resources to see the whole-health approach for mental health recovery.

4. NOTE: Grieving & Grace Leads to New Meaning of Life (opportunities)!

In John 9:1-3, we find a story of man born blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus if he or his parents sinned to make him blind. I love Jesus' response: "Neither … but for the work/power of God to be displayed in His life."

"The question for us is not where suffering has come from but what we are to do with it ... Overall, it's about LOVE being fueled by GRACE and GRACE being fueled by LOVE!"

Jesus was changing the whole perspective. I love how the Expository Greek Testament comments on this: "The question for us is not where suffering has come from, but what we are to do with it."That changes the whole scenario to let love move us all forward. That gives a whole new meaning of hope and discovering a new story … reStorying life. Overall, it's about love being fueled by grace and grace being fueled by love.

5. NOTE: Vision Doesn't Inspire Change, Love Does!

This perspective does not develop overnight. It takes time to go through all the emotions and a new perspective along the way provides new meaning and hope. For us, it was my wife and I deciding to live our lives without trying to fulfill some expectation and to get back into our "calling" (as if her condition put our "calling" on hold), but to see what opens up over time as we simply love each other and our family. I understand that without vision, we can get off track. Yet, how love unfolds in us can make vision unique to each of us, because vision arises from love and love fuels where the vision takes us.

So, if you're still in the journey with all kinds of emotions … it's okay! Take this as a helpful reminder that God's not judging you or decreeing these hardships to make you a better "Christian." Instead, consider the perspective that He is right there in you and with you giving you sufficient grace ... to see His works manifest in your marriage and family!

Hopefully these notes provide some encouragement and maybe some creative brainstorming for your journey. What have you found helpful for your journey? Let us know here and/or on our Facebook page.

Have you ever stopped to consider the challenges that teens with common mental health conditions might encounter in fully participating in the activities and programs offered by the typical church?

It's a question we must consider if we are invested in the lives of children and teens with mental illness and value the importance of passing our faith on to future generations. According to a recent study from Baylor University, the likelihood of someone becoming a regular church attender in young adulthood is highly dependent upon an established pattern of church participation during the teen years. The percentage of adolescents who attend church less than once a month who become weekly attenders in young adulthood is 3.2 percent.

To appreciate the struggles that teens might experience in attending worship services, participating in youth group, serving in outreach activities or going on mission trips, we need to recognize how attributes of mental conditions common to this population cause difficulty functioning in the environments where ministry takes place. We also need to see how the interaction of those attributes with common elements of church culture – our expectations for how people should act when we gather together - creates real barriers to church involvement for teens with mental illness.

Here are seven potential barriers to church involvement we might consider for teens with common mental health conditions and their families:

#1 - Stigma: Teens with mental health conditions aren't likely to receive the accommodations and supports that assist with inclusion in school while they're attending church. The stigma associated with mental illness combined with fear of being singled out for special attention and confidentiality concerns often cause teens and their parents to avoid any mention of their support needs to student ministry staff and volunteers.

#2 - Anxiety: Anxiety may represent the mental health condition that prevents the greatest number of teens from attending church. Compared to their peers, teens with anxiety disorders often misperceive the level of risk in new or unfamiliar situations. Consider the range of experiences that might produce intense discomfort or distress for a teen with anxiety seeking to engage at church:

They may struggle with the level of self-disclosure expected as a small group participant.

They may fear becoming the focus of attention during a worship service, small group or youth ministry activity. The prospect of reading from Scripture during a worship service or performing on the worship team might be overwhelming.

Kids with social anxiety are often intensely uncomfortable with the process of making new friends among unfamiliar, same-age peers from other schools. They may struggle to fit in following transitions from children's ministry to middle school ministry, or middle to high school ministry where they are likely to encounter older peers with established friend groups.

Teens who continue to experience separation anxiety may be able to attend church services but experience great distress at the prospect of an overnight retreat or an invitation to participate in a mission trip in a distant city.

#3 - Self-control: Teens with ADHD or other conditions that impact executive functioning (anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychosis) often struggle to get to worship services or other church activities on time. They may experience more difficulty delaying gratification and avoiding negative peer influences and patterns of behavior (substance use, sexual activity) likely to disrupt friendships and relationships with kids from church. They may be prone to intense spiritual experiences on mission trips or retreats but struggle to maintain a spiritually disciplined life when back in their daily routines.

#4 - Sensory processing: Sensory processing differences are often associated with autism spectrum disorders but are very common among teens with anxiety disorders and youth with ADHD. Kids with sensory differences may be averse to light, noise, touch and smells that others find engaging. Activities at church that may provide intense discomfort include...

Worship services with loud music and spectacular light shows

Perfume, cologne and body sprays

Hugs, handshakes and other physical contact

Multiple conversations taking place in close proximity

#5 - Social communication: Kids with anxiety disorders are prone to misinterpret the body language, facial expressions, tone and inflection of voice of their peers. Kids with ADHD often drive peers away through interrupting others when they speak or through impulsive words or actions. Their social communication struggles often interfere with their ability to fully participate in small groups that form the foundation of the discipleship process in many churches.

#6 - Social isolation: A wide range of mental health conditions common to teens may lead to withdrawal from relationships with peers involved at church or inhibit the development of friendships that lead to invitations to church activities. Kids who are depressed withdraw from interests or activities they previously enjoyed, including church. Kids with social anxiety may have a smaller circle of friends to invite them to church. They are less likely to be involved in the range of extracurricular activities that bring their parents into contact with other families who might invite them to church.

#7 - Past experiences of church: Kids with mental health conditions often become targets of bullying because the subtle nature of their disabilities makes them more acceptable targets than kids with overt special needs. In addition, their challenges in regulating their emotional responses to bullying reinforce the behavior among those looking to get a reaction from their targets. When teens encounter their tormentors at church, many will question the authenticity of Christianity and develop perceptions that Christians are hypocritical. Kids who are anxious or obsessive will experience more difficulty in getting past church experiences associated with hurt or discomfort.

Does your church have any type of inclusion strategy to help welcome children and teens with common mental health conditions and their families into your worship services or Christian education activities? What about adults with mental health conditions? Our team at Key Ministry has developed a book to guide churches in developing a mental health outreach and inclusion strategy, and offers lots of free resources and supports to churches seeking to welcome and serve families affected by mental illness in the communities we serve.

The groups offered by the Grace Alliance are an outstanding strategy for supporting individuals and families living with mental illness. In addition, they are preparing to launch the Redefine Grace Group, a small group experience for students (high school & college). As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I'm well aware that the apple often doesn't fall far from the tree and parents with mental illness often have kids with mental illness. We as the church need to be prepared to welcome and embrace children and teens affected by mental illness while coming alongside parents who are seeking to raise them in the faith.

Stephen Grcevich MD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, serving as president and founder of Key Ministry, an organization that promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. He is the author of Mental Health and the Church, a guide for churches seeking to minister with families impacted by mental illness, published by Zondervan in February 2018.

When was the last time you felt really hungry?

You probably didn’t think about what was happening in your body, but you certainly experienced the symptoms. Your brain, which monitors the hormone levels and nutrients in your bloodstream, recognized it was time for a refill. Your hypothalamus—your body’s control room—put out a general alert and started telling you eat. Your stomach felt empty, you started feeling pangs and might have heard some growling sounds. As your body worked hard to get your attention, you began thinking about food. You were motivated to fill the empty space in your abdomen. When you sat down to eat, you probably enjoyed your meal. In fact, your hunger added to your enjoyment. Especially if the food was nourishing, it probably tasted better, and felt more satisfying, than it would have if you had just finished off a bag of Doritos.

Hunger is a powerful force—one we often take for granted.

When was the last time you felt a gnawing hunger for Jesus?

Something made you aware of a different kind of pang—an emptiness in your spirit. Maybe you felt lonely, out of control, or far from God. Maybe you wondered whether you had any reason to keep on living. Maybe you suddenly recognized that what you had thought was a desire for something you saw on Amazon was actually spiritual restlessness. And when you experienced Jesus’ presence, felt his peace, or found encouragement in his Word, it was far sweeter than it would have been had you not felt the hunger of spiritual longing. Like physical hunger, spiritual hunger is a strong source of motivation—even though we don’t always recognize it for what it is.

Spiritual longing is also the foundation of true hope. The more closely you are in touch with your spiritual hunger, the more space you have in your life for hope. And the more you are blessed with the opportunity to understand that true hope is in Christ.

You may have thought hope was based in certainty, comfort, and convincing ourselves we have everything we need. But those who are certain, comfortable, and satisfied have no need for hope. Hope is based in the absence of what we need—and in our anticipation of receiving it.

In his letter to the Christians in ancient Rome, the apostle Paul is frank about our awkward position in this life, sometimes called the “now and not yet.” We have the blessings of God’s grace and Jesus’ redemption now, yet we wait for them to be fully visible. We wait for our true identity as children of God to be fully revealed. We wait to live in a world we were originally designed for—a world without the heartbreaking pall of sin’s curse. And while we wait, our spirits groan, along with all creation, and ache with hope for heaven:

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” (Romans 8:22-25).

That’s a good question. If we are satisfied with the life we have now, why hope for anything better? If we have received all we need, why long for something more? Anyone acutely aware of our current position cannot be satisfied with the life we have now. And anyone who is willing to admit to that lack of satisfaction has more room for hope.

You know the pain caused by mental illness, and you have heard its lies—spoken by a loved one or echoing in your own head. You probably have had moments when you have believed there is no hope. Perhaps you’ve thought God has abandoned you. Maybe you have suspected you have missed out on what he offers people he loves.

You haven’t missed anything. If you're not emotionally satisfied and mentally at peace, you are not coming up short in God's kingdom. You are in the same boat as everyone else—our lives don’t all look the same, but we are all groaning in longing for our true home. And if you recognize your hunger for Jesus, you are blessed. You are ready for true hope.

Let your hunger become the foundation for true hope in your life. It can lead you to realistic hope in what is to come. When you give a healthy kind of attention to your longings, you will enable yourself to stop expecting this world to give you answers it just doesn’t have. Your need for hope can encourage you to keep the door open to God’s work in you. Keep looking for hope in a solution beyond your own capabilities and only glimpsed in this life. Draw your hope not from yourself or your fellow travelers, but from its source, who is satisfied only by the work he has done, will do, and is doing in pursuit of his own purposes.

When I first joined the Grace Alliance team back in 2014, I knew I had a lot to learn. With a degree in Public Relations and four years of college ministry work, I felt a little behind the curve when it came to understanding mental health. But I was passionate about being able to help others through the journey of mental health difficulties.

I read books, participated in webinars, attended conferences and trainings, watched videos and asked a LOT of questions. I wanted to learn as much as I could so that I could provide the best help possible to the individuals, families and churches with which we would be working.

Another part of my training and preparation was to walk through all of the Grace Alliance resources. As I started reviewing our Thrive workbook, an in-depth, whole-health guide to empower management of mental health stressors, improvement of daily well-being and renewal of faith, I made one very important discovery:

I should be implementing these tools into my own life!

I do not have a mental health diagnosis, but I have walked through seasons of anxiety and depression. Yet, whether I’m experiencing symptoms of a mental health difficulty or not, I am learning the importance of mental health – taking care of my mental well-being.

So, here’s the reality:

EVERYONE should be paying attention to their mental health.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or scary or embarrassing. In fact, I’ve seen the benefits of taking care of my mental health bleed into every area of your life…my work, my friendships, my physical health, my ability to rest and relax, my faith and more.

Whether you’re a new mom experiencing the difficulties of postpartum depression, a student who just started meeting with a counselor to try to manage the stress and anxiety of school or a husband who is walking through bipolar disorder with your wife, there are small steps you can take to care for your own mental health.

Here are my top ten mental health care practices for ANYONE.

1. Be active.

God created our bodies so intricately, connecting every part of us with the other. That’s why caring for our physical health can have an impact on our mental health. In fact, did you know that exercise can produce the same effects as an anti-depressant? Yes, you read that correctly! I can honestly say that I can tell a difference in my mental well-being if I’ve skipped exercise or activity for a few days. There are PLENTY of days when I don’t feel like being active, but I make it a priority to make it to the gym, take the dog on a walk or do some at-home yoga to care for my mental health. It refreshes me, energizes me and even helps me rest better!

2. Limit unhealthy foods.

Y’all, this one is a STRUGGLE for me. I love chocolate and fro-yo and pizza and burgers like nobody’s business. Yet, I know how horrible continual unhealthy eating makes me feel. The sugar highs followed by sugar crashes, the fatigue that comes with nutrient-lacking foods and the sleeplessness that comes from caffeine and sweets too late at night all result in chaos for my mental health. But when I’m eating a balanced diet (with little treats sprinkled in, of course), not only does my body feel better, but my mind does as well. Clearer thinking, more energy and more focus!

3. People time.

Let me just preface this by telling you that I am an introvert. I absolutely need my alone time. But I’ve also learned that too much alone-time (isolation) is not good for me. Yet, let’s not place an expectation on ourselves to have intense, intentional time with people every single day. There are simple ways to get time with people that don’t have to be overwhelming. For example, I’ve learned that I feel much better and much less irritable if I go work at a coffee shop where I can just be around other people and have a few, limited interactions throughout my day. Sometimes, that’s all you need! Just to be around other people. Sit in a coffee shop, visit a park, go the library, run some errands.

4. Breaks from technology.

Don’t worry, I’m not here to tell you to throw out your smartphone and delete all of your social media accounts. What I am here to encourage you (and myself) with is that age-old phrase: “Everything in moderation.” Take simple steps like setting aside time to turn off your phone, computer, tablet, etc. each day, charging your devices outside of your bedroom at night or (my recent favorite) turning off notifications on your social media apps to prevent constant distractions through your day.

5. Get outside.

This is especially difficult in the winter months for those of us residing anywhere else besides Southern California, so we have to take advantage of it any chance we can get! During a particularly cold and rainy stretch here in Houston, I was starting to feel myself dip into a low and realized I hadn’t spent any time outside in several days. I knew that I needed some fresh air – even if it was cold air! So, I put on some warm layers, grabbed an umbrella and took our pup on a walk. Turns out that neither one of us minded the rain and we were both feeling much better by the time we returned!

6. Silence.

I remember riding in a car with a friend a few years ago and she turned the radio off and said, “Gosh, doesn’t the silence feel so good?” At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about. I loved cranking up the music every time I got in my car! But now, years later, I have come to appreciate those moments of silence. A moment to just be still, to give room for God’s gentle whispers, to process my day, to think about something I’m learning. I think Emily Freeman, one of my favorite authors, says it perfectly in her podcast: “Silence and stillness is how the soul sifts through the day’s input. Stillness is to our souls as decluttering is to our homes.” Let yourself be still and silent.

7. Try something new.

You’ve probably heard the expression that your brain is like a muscle…and it’s true! Trying new things is a great way to keep your mind engaged and stretched and challenged. In fact, according to our Thrive workbook, “Evidence suggests that mental activities have a healing and protective effect on mental well-being.” It may also lead to finding a new hobby or activity that you enjoy.

8. Give back.

In the “Refreshing Others” chapter of our Thrive workbook, we discuss the Biblical truths that God has already prepared good works for us to be involved in (Ephesians 2:10) and that when we serve others, we are actually serving God (Matthew 25:40). One of the most beautiful and redemptive things about some of our most difficult experiences is the way we get to come alongside others who may experience the same thing (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). What is even more wonderful is how God created even our brains to react positively when we help others, giving a sense of purpose and what scientist’s even call a “helper’s high.” Think about one or two ways you can serve someone else this week.

9. Say “thank you.”

In a blog about giving thanks I wrote back in November, I talked about the mental health benefits of practicing gratitude. I really try to implement this into my everyday life. Whether it’s creating a Gratitude Journal, writing a thank you note to a friend or family member or just thanking a waiter for his excellent service, saying “thank you” moves our mind away from negative thinking and onto the blessings God has given us!

10. Laugh!

This is my personal favorite and something that we might not even think about! When was the last time you had a good laugh? I’m talking tear-inducing, stomach-clenching, can’t-breathe laughter. Whether it’s calling up your friend who always makes you laugh, watching a funny movie or finding your favorite funny YouTube video (my personal favorite), getting a good laugh in can actually help reduce anxiety and boost your mood!

What’s your favorite way to take care of your mental health? Comment here or share on our Facebook page!

Casey Pruet

Executive Director of Programs & Marketing

*If you found these mental health tools helpful, check out more in our Thrive workbook or e-workbook. Each chapter walks you through a different topic, asking questions for self-evaluation, giving important information about the topic and how it ties to your mental health and practical tools to implement into your everyday life.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

What does the "God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles" look like as we journey through mental health challenges? While I don't claim to know the fullness of comfort, here are a couple of ideas of what comfort can mean for us and how to comfort others.

1. Comfort is always VALIDATING pain.

Validation means to recognize, to confirm, to establish, to legitimize the worthiness of an experience, emotion or concern. So, one of the best ways to begin having comfort in any mental health distress is to first acknowledge the pain as a legitimate and worthy response. Even if our pain is coming from irrational, negative thoughts or depression, acknowledging the pain recognizes how our experience is affecting us, not that it defines who we are.

Validation is a form of compassion to feel with and say, "It is okay to feel this way. It's not wrong or sinful to feel this way." Validation helps to defuse the negative tension that causes the brain and body to stay in constant threat mode ... fight, flight, or freeze. Actually, the more we fight against the depression, anxiety, or other stressor, the stronger it gets!

Jesus validates our pain...what bothers us, bothers Jesus! "WhenJesus saw the crowds He was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless (distressed and dispirited), like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). So, Jesus wanted to be with them!

THE COMFORT FROM WITHIN: Our comfort in Christ is from within, because He said "I will be in You" (John 14:20). We can rest knowing He is within, "moved with compassion" through everything that leaves us "distressed and dispirited," even when life doesn't turn out like we hoped. Why?

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talked about a lot of pain (which can make anyone discouraged, distressed, and dispirited), but he talked about it from the context of having a treasure within (2 Cor. 4:7). Paul knew that he would still experience the human condition and its pains, however now with a new source of strength (grace). A treasure within that would be of a surpassing greatness of power providing comfort and resilience for every pressures he faced. He wasn't left to his own will power to say, "I'm fine" (2 Cor. 4:8). So, with the powerful treasure of comfort, compassion, and a resilient love, Paul continues to VALIDATE the pains he (we) feel: "We are afflicted, but not crushed, perplexed, but not despairing ..." (2 Cor. 4:8). I don't know about you, but sometimes I have felt both afflicted and crushed, perplexed and despairing. Yet, what Paul was saying is that as humans we will have afflictions, but this treasure within won't leave us crushed. We will be perplexed with confusion or even doubt, but this new source of treasure within won't leave us in despair. This treasure within is Christ within us for every life harassment and feeling of helplessness! God validates our human condition, our pain, and gives us new source, a treasure within, with surpassing greatness of power for comfort, resilience and hope.

2. Comfort is always AFFIRMATION that we belong.

Affirmation is both stating a fact and offering support and encouragement! Mental health stressors, like depression and anxiety, naturally lead us to doubt our identity, worth, God's nearness or even our security with Him (e.g., "I'm not good enough"). You know what the best comfort for this is? The supportive presence of others with very few words ... even silence! Why? Because presence reaffirms belonging,it reaffirms we're loved no matter what, not based on what we have to do to earn it. So, sometimes God may seem silent, because maybe He is just reaffirming He is present without trying to explain away our pain (Psalm 34:18). Comfort is knowing ultimately we belong to Him!

Jesus came to affirm who we are! Jesus didn’t come to show us how lost and broken we were, He came to affirm us how loved we were! Being lost was not about being orphaned in darkness, it was that we belonged all along!

THE WORTH OF BELONGING: In Luke 15, we find three stories about a lost sheep and the shepherd who leaves the 99 for that one lost sheep! The second story is of the woman who has ten silver coins, but loses one. She turns on a lamp and goes throughout the whole house until she finds it. Then, we read about the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance but came home to a father running out to embrace him and continually kissing him (regardless of all the pig muck all over him!). Why is this important? Because ...

a. The sheep, coin, and son always belonged! They were part of an original flock, a full collection of wealth, and a loving family. They belonged and getting them back was all that mattered! The shepherd, the woman, and the father did not feel complete without them!

b. The sheep, coin, and son never lost their worth! At no point in the story did they lose their original value. They belonged and seeing them returned to embrace their worth was the priority. Even when the son thought he had lost his worth, the father was ready to welcome him back into the worth he had all along!

c. The sheep, coin, and son parables were for the religious, not the lost! Jesus told these stories in response to the religious leaders (Pharisees and scribes) who were grumbling about Jesus, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). Jesus was conveying that he saw a people harassed and distressed, helpless and dispirited and He wanted to be with them. God was not complete without them! He was conveying His love for us and that we are worth everything to Him, even His own life! That we have always belonged to Him!

AND each story ends with a celebration ... because His joy is now complete. What was once lost, never lost its worth or belonging and has returned to rest in satisfied love! That's what the joy of salvation is about ... BELONGING! "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my song and strength, and He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of your salvation" (Isaiah 12:3-4).

Do these concepts eliminate the distress? No! What they do is provide comfort throughout the process or journey. We learn for ourselves and then naturally know how to comfort others!

How have you seen and experienced comfort in these ways or other ways through your mental health journey? Comment here and on our facebook page.

What do you think of when you hear the word “balance”? Maybe it's standing on one leg, making healthy financial decisions or even trying to find that “quiet time” with Jesus amidst a hectic work day. Whether we know it or not, our lives are in constant flux, ultimately impacting our balance and ability to thrive